GS Paper 1

Is the caste Census a useful exercise?

Context: The Central government has decided to hold a caste census as part of the next Census exercise. The dates for the next decennial Census exercise, last held in 2011, are yet to be notified by the government.
The last time that India’s entire population was counted by caste was in 1931. Since then, only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been counted in the Census exercises.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains- Need For Caste based Census and associated Challenges.

Timeline of Caste based Census:

Caste census means inclusion of caste-wise tabulation of India’s population in the Census exercise.
Pre-Independence:
- 1871 Census was the first attempt to measure the population and enumerate caste data across India.
- 1931 Census was the last exercise to enumerate caste data.
Post-Independence:
- Union of India after Independence, decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste wise populations other than SCs and STs.
- Thus, India’s largest caste bloc – Other Backward Classes – have not figured in any census from 1951-2011.
- There is no proper estimate for the population of OBCs, various groups within the OBCs, and others.
- In 1961, the GOI advised States to conduct their own surveys and draw up State-specific OBC lists if they so desired.
Aftermath of Mandal Commission:
- In 1979, Mandal Commission (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission) suggested expansion of affirmative action to include other backward classes.
- OBCs, as per 1931 census, amounted to 52% of Indian population. Based on which a 27% reservation was given to the OBCs in 1990.
- Later there appeared demand for introducing the OBC category in the decennial census to count them.
Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011:
- SECC 2011 was the first caste-based census since 1931.
- It was conducted by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation in rural and urban areas respectively.
- This was the first time such a comprehensive exercise has been carried out for both rural and urban India, which included caste-wise population data.
- 2011 SECC data, excluding the caste data, was finalised and published by the government.
- Demand being raised to enumerate castes as part of Census 2021 itself. To make available authentic data on caste-wise population and their socio-economic conditions.

What is the need For Caste based Census?

Estimate change in demography: Present reservations and other welfare scheme entitlements to OBC are still based on the population estimates of 1931
Bring about social justice: Help governments’ welfare schemes reach the most backward and deprived castes that have been marginalised to date.
Help rationalise reservation policy as per the need of a specific caste or community: Land fragmentation and decades of agricultural stagnation have turned many upper-caste landowners into marginal farmers. Whereas rising rural wage has benefitted some of the backward classes including Dalits.
Demand for Reservations: There have been demands to expand OBC reservation (as the present 50% cap is arbitrary) and inclusion of dominant castes like Jats, Kapus, Patidars, Marathas etc. into the OBC category. Often these demands are not based on scientific evidence. Hence, a Caste based socio-economic census will bring out the real picture.
OBC Sub-categorisation: OBC membership is large and heterogeneous, with vast intra-caste differences in socio-economic conditions. Some better-off groups among OBC castes have cornered a disproportionately large share of seats reserved for OBCs giving rise to the demand for sub-classification of various caste groups among OBCs. The caste-based socio-economic census will help in such classification.
Assess the impact of Affirmative action: A socioeconomic caste census would help in assessing how far the extension of reservations to OBCs benefited them.
Identify relative deprivation of some castes.

Concerns against Caste Based Census:

Subvert India’s anti-caste struggle: Constitution, social reform movements and forces of modernity have long aspired for the annihilation of caste.
Reinforces Caste Identities: Enumeration of castes might reinforce caste identities prevalent in society.
Vote bank politics: Caste wise data may be used as a tool for caste-based political mobilisation.
New demands for Reservation: Numbers about OBCs might provide a new issue to the regional parties to mount pressure on the Centre for an OBC quota in central government jobs and educational institutions.
Federal concerns: According to the 7th schedule of the Constitution, the Census is in the domain of the Union. Thus, State governments conducting their own caste census is against the constitutional spirit.

Conclusion: While caste-based OBC enumeration is necessary for documenting discrimination, understanding current social- economic conditions of various castes and developing policy to distribute resources. A full caste census might be cumbersome as Indian society is divided into roughly 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes. However, caste as a criterion for the distribution of resources may pose significant risks, including reinforcing caste identities and promoting divisive politics.

New royalty rates for strategic minerals

Context: The Union Cabinet approved royalty rates for lithium, niobium, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs). For lithium and niobium a royalty rate of 3% each has been fixed, while for Rare Earth Elements (REEs), the rate has been set at 1%.

Strategic / Critical Minerals

Critical minerals are those minerals that are essential for economic development and national security. The lack of availability of these minerals or concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations may lead to supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies.
Critical minerals are the foundation on which modern technology is built. From solar panels to semiconductors, and wind turbines to advanced batteries for storage and transportation, the world needs critical minerals to build these products. Simply put, there is no energy transition without critical minerals, which is why their supply chain resilience has become an increasing priority for major economies.

Critical / Strategic Mineral in India and India’s Dependency on Imports

Lithium

It is a soft, silvery metal. It has the lowest density of all metals. It reacts vigorously with water.
The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles. Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks.
Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making them lighter. A magnesium-lithium alloy is used for armour plating. Aluminium-lithium alloys are used in aircraft, bicycle frames and high-speed trains.
Lithium oxide is used in special glasses and glass ceramics. Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic materials known and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems (as is lithium bromide).
Lithium stearate is used as an all-purpose and high-temperature lubricant. Lithium carbonate is used in drugs to treat manic depression, although its action on the brain is still not fully understood. Lithium hydride is used as a means of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel.

Niobium

A silvery metal that is very resistant to corrosion due to a layer of oxide on its surface.
Niobium is used in alloys including stainless steel. It improves the strength of the alloys, particularly at low temperatures. Alloys containing niobium are used in jet engines and rockets, beams and girders for buildings and oil rigs, and oil and gas pipelines.
This element also has superconducting properties. It is used in superconducting magnets for particle accelerators, MRI scanners and NMR equipment.
Niobium oxide compounds are added to glass to increase the refractive index, which allows corrective glasses to be made with thinner lenses.

Rare Earth Elements

The 17 rare earth elements (REE) include the 15 Lanthanides (atomic number 57 — which is Lanthanum — to 71 in the periodic table) plus Scandium (atomic number 21) and Yttrium (39). REEs are classified as light RE elements (LREE) and heavy RE elements (HREE).
Some REEs are available in India — such as Lanthanum, Cerium, Neodymium, Praseodymium and Samarium, etc. Others such as Dysprosium, Terbium, and Europium, which are classified as HREEs, are not available in Indian deposits in extractable quantities. Hence, there is a dependence on countries such as China for HREEs, which is one of the leading producers of REEs, with an estimated 70 per cent share of the global production.
The rare earth elements are used in Electric vehicles. They are used in motors and not the batteries. These EVs consist of a permanent magnet motor. The magnets used in these motors are made with REEs such as neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium.

Singareni Collieries belongs to Telangana, rules Home Ministry

Context: In a major relief to Telangana, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has ruled that the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) belongs to Telangana.

Background:

A stalemate prevailed over the division of assets pertaining to the SCCL between the two States.
The Telangana State government has been firm that the company belonged to it on the basis of location and this has been confirmed by the Attorney General.
The Andhra Pradesh government has raised objections to the Attorney General’s opinion. It wanted to conclude that SCCL was an interstate company.

The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)

It is a Government coal mining company jointly owned by the Government of Telangana and the Government of India on a 51:49 equity basis.

The Singareni coal reserves stretch across 350 Km of the Pranahita – Godavari Valley of Telangana with a proven geological reserve aggregating to a whopping 8791 million tonnes.
SCCL is currently operating 18 opencast and 24 underground mines in 4 districts of Telangana

Yom Kippur War: Overview

Context: In a recent development on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. This action by Hamas has shifted the spotlight back to the 'Yom Kippur War,' which took place from October 6 to October 25, 1973.

Palestine was a territory under the Ottoman Rule.
Following the Sykes-Picot Accord, Palestine was given to England as a protectorate.
Antisemitic attitude of Hitler and ostracization of Jews in Europe, led to a decision where England and USA tried to resettle Jews in their original homeland.
Palestine at that time was Arab state inhabited by Muslims.
The incoming migrant Jews with the aid of USA and Britain, dominated the local Arab population and tried to carve out a state and marginalise Arabs in two pockets of West Bank and Gaza.
Thus, Arabs were made as a Stateless-refugees in their own country.
This created a lot of anger and resistance in other neighbouring Arab countries which wanted to restore the status of fellow Arabs in Palestine.

About Six-Day War of 1967:

The Six-Day War, also known as the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, was a conflict that took place between Israel and the Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.
It was triggered by Palestinian guerrilla attacks on Israel from bases in Syria, which escalated tensions between the two parties.
Syria, fearing an impending Israeli invasion, sought support from Egypt.
In response, Egypt ordered the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces from the Sinai Peninsula and deployed its troops there.
Additionally, Egypt and Jordan entered into a mutual defence treaty, heightening the atmosphere of confrontation.
Feeling encircled and under the perceived threat of an imminent Arab attack, Israel initiated a pre-emptive strike against the three Arab states on June 5, 1967.
This military action resulted in Israel gaining control of the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank of the Jordan River, Old City of Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.
The status of these occupied territories later became a major point of contention between the conflicting parties.

What was Yom Kippur War?

The Yom Kippur war, also known as the October war or the Ramadan war, marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This conflict, fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, involved Israel on one side and Egypt and Syria on the other.

Causes and Course of war:

1.Israel's Post-1967 Ascendancy:

Following its decisive victory in the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel had emerged as a dominant regional power.
It annexed territories, including the Golan Heights from Syria and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, setting the stage for future tensions.

2.Anwar Sadat's Diplomatic Calculus:

Anwar el-Sadat became Egypt's president in 1970.
The country was facing economical-challenges, no longer to sustain continuous conflict with Israel.
Sadat hatched a bold plan to attack Israel, hoping that even an unsuccessful assault would compel Israel to consider peace with Egypt.

In 1972, he took significant diplomatic steps, expelling Soviet advisers from Egypt and establishing diplomatic channels with Washington (Israel's key ally).
A new alliance with Syria was forged, setting the stage for a coordinated attack on Israel.

4.The Outbreak of War on Yom Kippur:

The Yom Kippur war commenced on October 6, 1973 which is a significant date for Judaism.
Arab coalition forces launched surprise attacks on Israeli-occupied territories.
The attack, during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, further exacerbated Israel's unpreparedness as many of its soldiers were on leave for Yom Kippur.
Consequently, Egypt and Syria initially made substantial gains.

5.The Course of Battle and International Involvement:

Israel eventually rallied its forces and counterattacked.
Fighting intensified primarily in the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula.
U.S. President Richard Nixon issued a global nuclear alert due to heightened geopolitical tensions.

Comparing the Yom Kippur War to the recent Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

Recently, Hamas initiated 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.' The surge of violence has been attributed to the longstanding tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, notably stemming from the dispute over the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The episode has drawn comparisons to the Yom Kippur War of 1973, marking one of the deadliest assaults on Israel since that time.
Despite its advanced intelligence and interception systems, Israel was caught off guard by the sudden onslaught by Hamas, echoing the Yom Kippur War, during which Israel also found itself ill-prepared due to many soldiers being on leave for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.

Nobel Peace Prize 2023: Narges Mohammadi

Context: Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian activist, won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts towards women’s rights and democracy.

About Narges Mohammadi

She has won the Nobel Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.
She is the 19^th Woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the second Iranian Woman, after Shirin Ebadi (won Nobel Peace Prize in 2003).

About Nobel Peace Prize

It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine and Literature.
It is awarded by a committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget).
It is awarded for the Outstanding contributions to peace: arms reduction, international cooperation, and organisations contributing to peace, and human rights contributions to peace.
It was first awarded in 1901. It was divided equally between Jean Henry Dunant "for his humanitarian efforts to help wounded soldiers and create international understanding" and Frédéric Passy "for his lifelong work for international peace conferences, diplomacy and arbitration".
Only two recipients have won multiple Prizes: the International Committee of the Red Cross has won three times (1917, 1944, and 1963) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has won twice (1954 and 1981).

Legend of Sammakka-Sarakka

Context: Recently, Union Cabinet Ministry, approved a tribal university for Telangana-‘the Sarakka Central Tribal University’. The Central Government announced the establishment of the university as a part of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The University is to be named after Sammakka-Sarakka, revered by the local tribal community.

Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara:

As per the legends, Sammakka was married to a feudal chief of the Kakatiyas dynasty (ruled over the Warangal region). Sarakka/Saralamma was the daughter of Sammakka.
Kakatiya dynasty ruler, Prataprudra imposed taxes on the Koya tribe and later declared battle on the tribe when the chief was not able to pay the taxes.
- The Sammakka Sarakka Jathara/Medaram Jathara, a biennial festival is celebrated to commemorate this battle of the 13th-century, in which the mother-daughter duo participated against the local rulers in protest against the imposition of taxes.
- Sammakka and Sarakka are worshipped as the protector of Koya tribe.
- The festival shows no Vedic or Brahmanic influence.
- The ritual of the festival includes taking holy dip in Jampanna Vagu (a stream), a tributary of River Godavari.
- From Medaram, the Jathara begins and priests belonging to Koya tribe perform the rituals. Medaram is situated in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya forest.
- Various tribal and non-tribal communities participate in the festival, from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Jharkhand.
- It is the second largest fair of India, and is often referred to as the Kumbh Mela of the tribals.
- The festival is declared a state festival by the Telangana government.

Empowering Women: Unpaid Care Work's Influence on Labor Force Engagement

Context: The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) has long been a central focus in discussions around women's empowerment. While India's FLFPR has improved from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 37% in 2022-23, it still falls short compared to the world average of 47.8% (2022). Moreover, a significant portion of this participation comprises unpaid helpers in household enterprises, highlighting the persistent issue of unpaid labor among women.

This article explores -

what is Unpaid care work
Need for recognition of unpaid care work
several challenges while Calculating unpaid care work
Potential solutions to create a more inclusive and equitable workforce.

About Unpaid care work

According to OECD, refers to all unpaid services provided within a household for its members, including care of persons, housework and voluntary community work. These activities are considered work because theoretically, one could pay a third person to perform them.

Unpaid = the individual performing this activity is not remunerated
Care = the activity provides what is necessary for the health, well-being, maintenance, and protection of someone or something
Work = the activity involves mental or physical effort and is costly in terms of time resources

Need for recognition of unpaid care work

Mis-estimation of Economic activity: Non-inclusion of unpaid care work in national accounting statistics like GDP grossly misestimates the level of economic activity.
- If unpaid care work were assigned a monetary value, it would constitute 9% of the global GDP.
Female Labour Participation: Unpaid care work is a significant barrier preventing women from entering and staying in the workforce, as highlighted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This burden creates "time poverty," restricting women's ability to engage in paid employment and acquire the skills necessary for better job opportunities. This challenge is not unique to India; globally, in 2016, 46.7% of women cited domestic duties as the reason for their absence from the workforce, compared to only 6.3% of men.
Wage Gap: often domestic care work by women is treated as unproductive and it is reflected in low wages for women in the labour market when compared to men.
Need for a Care Economy: India's demographic landscape is expected to change between 2020 to 2050, necessitating more elderly care alongside continuing levels of childcare.
- By 2050, the proportion of elderly persons is expected to increase to 20.8% of the population, i.e. about 347 million persons. Moreover, even as the proportion of children reduces marginally to 18%, the number of children will still be close to 300 million.

Calculating unpaid care work presents several challenges, as outlined below with examples:

Perception of "Work": Unpaid care work is often not considered 'work' in the traditional sense. For instance, a mother caring for her children or a spouse looking after an elderly partner may not view these responsibilities as 'work' despite the significant time and effort involved. Consequently, when surveys ask about 'work,' respondents may exclude care activities from their responses, leading to underreporting.
Subjectivity and Variation: The nature of care work varies widely and can be highly subjective. Consider the task of cooking meals: one person might cook three meals a day from scratch, while another might use pre-packaged foods, making it challenging to standardize measurements. Additionally, caregiving responsibilities change over time – caring for a toddler differs from caring for a teenager, making it difficult to capture the full spectrum of care work.
Invisible Labor: Much of care work is invisible. Emotional support, mental labor (like planning and organizing), and managing family dynamics are essential components of caregiving but often go unnoticed. For example, a caregiver may spend hours coordinating doctor's appointments and managing medications, which are critical aspects of care but not easily quantifiable.
Seasonality: Care work can vary seasonally. Consider holiday preparations – the workload for cooking, decorating, and gift-giving increases significantly during certain times of the year. These fluctuations make it challenging to capture the consistent level of care work throughout the year.
Cultural Differences: Cultural norms significantly impact how care work is perceived and distributed within households. For example, in some cultures, extended family members often share caregiving responsibilities, while in others, it may fall primarily on women. These cultural variations complicate efforts to standardize measurement across diverse societies.
Data Collection Methods: Traditional data collection methods like surveys may not fully capture care work. Respondents may forget or underestimate the time spent on caregiving, especially if it's a continuous, fragmented task. They may also not recognize certain caregiving activities as 'work,' leading to inaccuracies in reporting.
Valuation of Care Work: Assigning a monetary value to care work is complex. For example, estimating the economic value of a stay-at-home parent's contributions involves considering factors like the cost of hiring childcare, cooking, cleaning, and emotional support. These intangible contributions are challenging to quantify accurately.

Key Takeaways from Article

Addressing Childcare Needs: Some State governments have focused on building support services through the Anganwadi network.
- The 2024-25 Budget increased the Ministry of Women and Child Development's budget for the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme by 3%.
Community-Based Creches: Various models of community-based creches are operational in parts of some States, in partnership with government and non-government bodies. There is a need to review these models for replicability, financial sustainability, and scalability.
Demand for Hired Caregivers: Rising demand for hired caregivers in urban and peri-urban areas but this sector lacks regulation, leaving domestic workers who double as caregivers without training, protection, or standards. Bodies like the Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council and the Healthcare Sector Skill Council are responsible for skilling but need more support.
Policy Framework: A comprehensive policy is needed to define the care ecosystem from a life course perspective.
- A multi-ministerial committee involving the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Labour and Employment, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship should be initiated.

Way Forward

Adequate Investment in care infrastructure such as Pre-Primary Education, Health, Electricity, drinking water, LPG connection etc. For example, A 2017 analysis by the Women’s Budget Group found that if an additional 2 percent of the GDP were invested in the Indian health and care sector, the country could generate 11 million additional jobs, nearly one-third of which would go to women.
Social Protection Policies:
- Allow tax deductions of care-related expenses by the households for formalisation of domestic workers.
- Provide for the cash transfer to women so that they can purchase childcare services from domestic workers.
Promote active labour market policies:
- Paid maternity leave and Paternity leave to care for the children.
- Efficient implementation of Public Works Programme such as MGNREGA
- Enhance skill set through vocational training and retraining to enhance employability.
- Provide Gender-sensitive work environments such as reduced or flexible working hours.
- Facilitate entry of women into Gig Economy
- Nurture and promote women led SHGs.
- Redistribute: Support NGOs and Private sector to care for the children and Elderly Ex: Old age homes, Pre-Primary Schools etc.

The above-mentioned strategies can contribute to meeting goals of SDG 1 (end poverty); SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives); SDG 4 (ensure inclusive and equitable quality education); SDG 5 (achieve gender equality); SDG 6 (ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation) etc.

Conclusion: Increasing women’s participation in the labor force requires addressing the entire spectrum of care responsibilities. Creating a supportive care ecosystem will help reduce gender inequality and empower women economically, benefiting both society and the economy as a whole as highlighted by The World Economic Forum’s report on the ‘Future of Care Economy’ which highlights three perspectives: economic productivity, business opportunity, and human rights (gender equality and disability inclusion).

Norwegian Author Jon Fosse Wins Nobel Prize for Literature 2023

Context: Jon Fosse from Norway, won the Nobel Prize in Literature. His plays are among the most widely staged playwright in the world.

About the news:

The writer is known for his innovative plays and prose, giving “voice to the unsayable”.
His works are written in Norwegian Nynorsk language, covering number of genres- Plays, novels, poetry collections, essays and children’s books.

Major works of Jon Fosse

Jon Fosse made his debut as an author in 1983 with the novel, ‘Red, Black’ (Raudt,Svart), which moves back and forth in time and between perspectives. The novel was emotionally raw broached the theme of suicide.
His works are minimalistic and rely on simple language, delivering messages through rhythm, melody and silence.
Boathouse and Melancholy I and II; Someone is Going to come; And We’ll Never be Parted.
His latest, Septology, is a semiautobiographical work and its third volume was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize.
In 2022, French Feminist Icon Annie Ernaux was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

About Nobel Prize in Literature:

The Swedish Academy, Stockholm, Sweden awards the Prize.
It is one the Five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895.
It is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country in the field of literature, producing the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction.

Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian, receiving the nation’s first Nobel Prize (in Literature) in 1913 for his collection ‘Gitanjali’ published in London in 1912. He was also the first non-westerner, to receive this prize.

Glacial Lake outburst Flood (GLOF)

Context: With the monsoon setting in, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Department (USDMA) will do a vulnerability study of 13 glacial lakes, five of them in “high-risk zone”. The study aims to provide data to help avoid calamities such as lake outbursts.

Glacial Lake

A glacial lake is a body of water that originates from a glacier. It typically forms at the foot of a glacier but may form on, in, or under it.
Types - Lakes form when meltwater ponds and this can happen on the ice surface (supraglacial lakes), in front of the ice (proglacial lakes), or even underneath the ice (subglacial lakes).

Glacial Lake outburst Flood (GLOF)

GLOFs are disaster events caused by the abrupt discharge of water from glacial lakes — large bodies of water that sit in front of, on top of, or beneath a melting glacier.
As a glacier withdraws, it leaves behind a depression that gets filled with meltwater, thereby forming a lake.
The more the glacier recedes, the bigger and more dangerous the lake becomes.
Such lakes are mostly dammed by unstable ice or sediment composed of loose rock and debris. In case the boundary around them breaks, huge amounts of water rush down the side of the mountains, which could cause flooding in the downstream areas — this is referred to as a GLOF event.
Experts often attribute GLOFs to climate change and the increase of anthropogenic footprints on glaciers.

Reasons for GLOF

GLOFs can be triggered by various reasons, including glacial calving, where sizable ice chunks detach from the glacier into the lake, inducing sudden water displacement.
Incidents such as avalanches or landslides can also impact the stability of the boundary around a glacial lake, leading to its failure, and the rapid discharge of water.
GLOFs can unleash large volumes of water, sediment, and debris downstream with formidable force and velocity. The floodwaters can submerge valleys, obliterate infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings, and result in significant loss of life and livelihoods.

Impact

When a glacial lake bursts, its water flows into downstream areas at extreme speed. This causes massive damage to the infrastructure. GLOFs remain a persistent threat to downstream communities and infrastructure, besides flora and fauna.

In June 2013, Uttarakhand received an unusual amount of rainfall leading to the melting of the Chorabari glacier and the eruption of the Mandakini river. The floods affected large parts of Uttarakhand. Reportedly, the worst hit was the Kedarnath valley in Uttarakhand, as the flood left behind a death toll of more than 5,000.

Guidelines on Risk Reduction

Identifying Potentially Dangerous Lakes:

Potentially dangerous lakes can be identified based on field observations, records of past events, geomorphologic and geotechnical characteristics of the lake/dam and surroundings, and other physical conditions.

Use of Technology:

Promoting use of Synthetic-Aperture Radar imagery (a form of radar that is used to create two-dimensional images) to automatically detect changes in water bodies, including new lake formations, during the monsoon months. Methods and protocols could also be developed to allow remote monitoring of lake bodies from space.

Channeling potential floods:

To manage lakes structurally, the NDMA recommends reducing the volume of water with methods such as controlled breaching, pumping or siphoning out water and making a tunnel through the moraine barrier or under an ice dam.

Uniform Codes for Construction Activity:

Developing a broad framework for infrastructure development, construction and excavation in vulnerable zones. There is a need to accept procedures for land use planning in the GLOF-prone areas.

Enhancing Early Warning Systems (EWS):

The number of implemented and operational GLOF EWS is very small, even at the global scale. In the Himalayan region, there are three reported instances (two in Nepal and one in China) of implementation of sensor- and monitoring-based technical systems for GLOF early warning.

Training Local Manpower:

Apart from pressing specialized forces such as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ITBP and the Army, NDMA has emphasized the need for trained local manpower. It has been observed that over 80% of search and rescue is carried out by the local community before the intervention of the state machinery and specialized search and rescue teams. The local teams could also assist in planning and setting up emergency shelters, distributing relief packages, identifying missing people, and addressing the needs for food, healthcare, water supply etc.

Comprehensive Alarm Systems:

Besides classical alarm infrastructure consisting of acoustic alarms by sirens, modern communication technology using cells and smartphones can complement or even replace traditional alarm infrastructure.

In 2020, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued detailed guidelines on how to reduce and deal with disasters caused by GLOFs/Glacial Bursts.
NDMA guidelines suggest that risk reduction can be done by identifying and mapping potentially dangerous lakes, taking structural measures to prevent their sudden breach, and establishing mechanisms to save lives and property in times of a breach.

Vulnerable glacial lakes in Uttarakhand:

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which operates under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, has identified 188 glacial lakes in the Himalayan states that can potentially be breached because of heavy rainfall.
Thirteen of them are in Uttarakhand.
Five highly sensitive glacial lakes fall into the ‘A’ category. These include Vasudhara Tal in the Dhauliganga basin in Chamoli district, and four lakes in Pithoragarh district — Maban Lake in Lassar Yangti Valley, Pyungru Lake in the Darma basin, an unclassified lake in the Darma basin, and another unclassified lake in Kuthi Yangti Valley.

What is Circular Migration?

Context: Circular Migration a common phenomenon in India society, which has intensified after industrialization.

Circular Migration

Circular migration is like a temporary back-and-forth movement of people between two places, countries, states, or even cities. They move to another place to work when there are job opportunities and then return to their original place when the work season ends. It's a bit like going on a short-term work trip and coming back home when it's done. This type of migration is common among low-income groups who are looking for jobs that are only available for a limited time, like seasonal work in farming or construction.

Why Circular migration happening in India?

Industrialization: India's ongoing industrialization has led to the development of manufacturing and construction sectors in urban areas. This growth creates job opportunities that attract rural residents to temporarily move to cities in search of work.
Growth of Services Sector: The services sector, including IT, hospitality, and retail, has expanded in India's urban centers. This sector offers various employment opportunities, including short-term contracts and part-time work, which encourages circular migration.
Uneven Development: India's development is not uniform across all states and regions. Some areas have seen more significant economic growth and urbanization than others in post liberalization era. #Western and Southern States benefitted a lot whereas West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha have witnessed the highest rates of out migration.
Social Networks: Existing social networks play a crucial role in circular migration. People often have relatives or friends in urban areas who can help them find temporary work or provide support during their stay, making it easier for them to move back and forth.

Factors for Migration

Push Factors	Pull Factors
- poverty - high population pressure on the land - lack of basic infrastructural facilities like health care, education, etc. - natural disasters such as, flood, drought, cyclonic storms, earthquake, tsunami wars and local conflicts also give an extra push to migrate.	- better employment opportunities - availability of regular work - relatively higher wages - better opportunities for education - better health facilities - sources of entertainment

Positive consequences of Migration

Employment Opportunities: Migration often leads to increased employment opportunities in urban areas, where industries and services are concentrated. Migrants, especially those with specialized skills, can find better-paying jobs than in their rural hometowns.
Serve as Lifeline for Rural Economy: Remittances sent back by migrants to their families in rural areas can significantly boost the local economy. This money can be utilized for investment in education, healthcare, and local businesses, improving the standard of living in these areas.
Skill Enhancement: Migrants often acquire new skills and experiences in urban environments, which can be valuable both for their personal development and for their communities when they return.
Women Empowerment: Migration provides women greater autonomy and decision-making power in the family due to the absence of men who migrate. It gives them opportunities for economic independence and personal growth and challenges traditional gender roles.
Fulfilling the Demand for Low-Skill Jobs: Migrants often fill labor gaps in industries that require low-skilled workers, which can be crucial for sustaining these industries and maintaining economic productivity. #Especially in Western Countries.

Negative Consequences of Migration

Brain Drain Effect: When skilled individuals migrate abroad in large numbers, it can lead to a "brain drain" in their home country, wherein the most talented people of our country will use their intellect, skill and innovation for the advancement of another country.
Competition for Jobs: In urban areas, migrants may compete with local residents for jobs, potentially leading to increased job competition and lower wages, particularly in certain sectors.
Stagnation in Agriculture: Rural-to-urban migration can lead to a decline in the agricultural workforce, potentially reducing agricultural productivity and food security in rural areas.
Burden on Physical Infrastructure: Rapid urbanization due to migration can strain urban infrastructure such as housing, transportation, healthcare, and education. This can lead to overcrowding, inadequate public services, and increased environmental problems.

Circular Migration: A promising path to manage Migration effectively

As the needs of development and individual economic advancement can be balanced out. #Balanced Migration
It results into “brain circulation”, wherein individual can use his/her talent in both countries and also contributes to the remittances.
It offers flexibility to migrants, as they can return to their home country when job opportunities change or when they want to reunite with their families.

The effective management of migration requires well-designed policies that protect the rights of migrants, address issues of exploitation and precarity, and promote integration into host communities. Additionally, cooperation between origin and destination countries is essential to maximize the benefits of this migration pattern. #SDG target 10.7, which calls on countries to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration.

Madras HC dismisses PIL petition against Kudankulam project

Context: The Madras High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed in 2017 against the first pour of concrete for units 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) without complying with norms on restricting the population growth in the sterilized zone — the area within a 5km radius of the plant.

Kudankulam Project

Location - Kudankulam, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu.

Capacity

2000 Megawatt (2 GW) of current Installed capacity out of the total planned capacity of 6000 Megawatt (6 GW).
It will be achieved through Six VVER-1000 Pressurised water reactors (PWR) reactors built in collaboration with Atomstroyexport, the Russian state company and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
It is India’s largest Nuclear Power Plant (in terms of Installed capacity).

Background

Indo-Russian Agreement -1988 - Initially planned to build two reactor units. The project got stuck due to dissolution of the USSR but revived under a new agreement between India and Russia in 1997.
Construction works started in 2002 but the project suffered delays due to persistent protests by local inhabitants and activist groups over safety concerns.
Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan (2011) fuelled the opposition thus construction works were suspended for several months.
The construction was resumed after the Supreme Court of India rejected petitions to block the project and permitted the commissioning of both the units in May 2013.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

It is a Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. The Company was registered as a Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1956 in 1987.

Its objective is to operate atomic power plants and implement atomic power projects for the generation of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programmes of the Government of India under the Atomic Energy Act, of 1962.NPCIL is responsible for design, construction, commissioning and operation of nuclear power reactors.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

It is a Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. The Company was registered as a Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1956 in 1987.Its objective is to operate atomic power plants and implement atomic power projects for the generation of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programmes of the Government of India under the Atomic Energy Act, of 1962.NPCIL is responsible for design, construction, commissioning and operation of nuclear power reactors.

Appointment of Archakas in Agamic temples

Context: The Supreme Court issued an order maintaining the current state of affairs regarding the appointment of archakas (priests) in Agamic temples in Tamil Nadu. An association of archakas, had contested reforms introduced by the government, which were perceived as an attempt to alter the hereditary system of appointing archakas in Agama temples.

More about the news:

The petitioners sought the annulment of the state government's orders, which paved the way for individuals trained in Agama Sastra, regardless of caste and gender, to assume the role of priests.
The petitioners alleged that the state government was illicitly trying to appoint non-believers as archakas, which they argued violated religious rights safeguarded by the Constitution.
- They contended that expertise in the Agamas, which are significant religious practices, could not be acquired through a one-year certificate course offered by the government but required years of rigorous training under knowledgeable Gurus.
- It pointed out that prominent Shaivite and Vaishnavite temples in Tamil Nadu were built according to Agamas and worship therein is as per Agamas.
- It is well settled that a secular Government does not have the power to interfere with essential religious practices, as such a right is well protected under the Constitution of India. Agamas undoubtedly pertains to an essential religious practice, which cannot be tampered with by the Government”.

About ‘Archakas’ and ‘Yajakas’:

The term "Yajaka" finds its origins in the Sanskrit word "yaja," which encompasses the concepts of sacrifice. Those who actively partake in worship or sacrificial rites, along with those who support them, are collectively referred to as "Yajis."
"Yajanam" signifies the act of worship, while "yajamana" denotes the individual who sponsors and hosts the ritual with their patronage.
The practice of yaja dates back to the Vedic era.
The Yajurveda has given sacrificial prayers or formula. It stands as the second most significant Veda after the Rigveda. Anyone who engages in ritualistic worship of God is considered a Yajaka.
An "archaka" is someone who worships an "arca," which signifies an image of God.
In traditional Vaishnavism, an "arca" represents a living incarnation of God in the form of an image. This image may be crafted from various materials such as stone, wood, clay, gemstones, gold, silver, bronze, or alloys, but it is treated as an embodiment of God.
To become an archaka, individuals typically receive initiation or "Deekshai" and undergo sacred rituals, often guided by their Guru or Acharya, who is often their fathers. This initiation occurs at a tender age, typically between five and seven years, and is followed by rigorous Vedic education spanning a minimum of three years.
Subsequently, they undergo further training, lasting three to five years, to perform Poojas (ritual worship) and Homams (sacrificial fire ceremonies). Only after this extensive training do they assume the role of archakas.

Role of Archakas or Yajakas:

In Vaishnavism, an archaka is unequivocally considered an incarnation of Hari (God). This perspective is mirrored in Saivism as well.
Archakas occupy a paramount role in society as they ensure the proper worship of deities in accordance with scriptural guidelines.
By keeping the Deities content, they prevent misfortunes and calamities, fostering peace, prosperity, and the well-being of communities in the towns and villages where temples are located.
Scriptures emphasize that when priests perform worship with pure intentions and utmost sincerity, it brings abundant blessings to all.

Worship in Hinduism:

In Hinduism, devotees have the option to engage in worship of their chosen deities through two distinct approaches: external worship (bahya) involving specific rituals, prayers, and offerings, or internal worship (antah), which relies on mental visualization and spiritual connection.
The practice of mental worship, known as "manasa puja," is often regarded as more potent and profound in its effects. It entails invoking the divine presence within one's consciousness and devotion.
External worship can be performed by a devotee directly, without any intermediary, or indirectly with the guidance and assistance of a trained priest.
Traditionally, the responsibility of conducting worship ceremonies in Hindu temples falls upon individuals known as priests. These priests go by different titles such as "archakas" and "yajakas," depending on their specific roles and responsibilities within the temple.
In Vaishnava temples, the participation of a priest is typically indispensable for the worship of deities. The intricate rituals and customs involved in Vaishnava worship necessitate the expertise of a trained priest to ensure their proper execution.
However, in Saiva temples, devotees have more flexibility. They can choose to worship the deity directly, engaging in rituals and prayers without the need for a priest's involvement, or they may opt to receive guidance and assistance from a temple priest, depending on their personal preferences and beliefs.

Agamas and Tantras:

The Agamas are a compilation of diverse Tantric texts and scriptures from various Hindu schools. The term "Agama" translates to tradition or passed-down knowledge.
The term "Agama" signifies "that which has come to us," reflecting its transmission across generations, and "Tantra" means "that which protects with detail."
The Agamic and Tantric texts fall into three primary categories: Vaishnava Agamas, Saiva Agamas, and Sakta Tantras, though this classification is not exhaustive. Vaishnava and Saiva texts are typically called Agamas, while Tantra is often associated with Sakta texts. However, technically, Tantra is an integral part of Agama, and these terms are often used interchangeably.
These Agama texts encompass a wide range of subjects, including cosmology, philosophy, meditation techniques, yoga, mantras, temple construction and deity worship.
They are available in both Tamil and Sanskrit languages.
Although Agamic traditions are often associated with Tantrism, the term "Tantra" specifically refers to Shakta Agamas.
The Agama literature is extensive, comprising 28 Shaiva Agamas, 64 Shakta Agamas (also known as Tantras), and 108 Vaishnava Agamas (also called Pancharatra Samhitas), along with numerous Upa-Agamas.
The origin and chronology of Agamas remain uncertain, with some possibly of Vedic origin and others not. While some scholars suggest they date back to over 1100 BCE, epigraphical and archaeological evidence indicates their existence during the Pallava dynasty era in the middle of the 1st millennium CE.
It's important to note that Hindu Agama texts contain passages challenging the authority of the Vedas while asserting that they reveal the Vedas' true essence.
Additionally, the Agamic literary genre can also be found in Sramaṇic traditions such as Buddhism and Jainism.
The Agamas outline three essential requirements for a place of pilgrimage:
- Sthala (temple location),
- Tirtha (temple water tank), and
- Murti (deity image)

They provide detailed rules for Silpa, the art of sculpture, including quality standards for temple locations, types of images, materials, dimensions, proportions, air circulation, and lighting within the temple complex.
Daily worship rituals at temples follow Agama-set rules.

Agamas and Tantras are profound sources of wisdom that enrich and guide various aspects of Hindu spiritual and cultural life.